I Will Come Again by R. Tuttle

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 22, 1875

“I Will Come Again.”

By R. Tuttle

What could have been more cheering to the disciples of Christ than the promise, “I will come again”? The Saviour whom they loved was going away. For three years he had been with them. He had healed their sick and lame, opened the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind, taught in their synagogues and in their streets, raised the dead and given them back to their sorrowing friends, fed the hungry, and taught all the things concerning the kingdom of Heaven.

They had learned to love him and confide in him as their friend and comforter, and when he told them, “Now I go my way to Him that sent me,” sorrow filled their hearts. Jesus loved his disciples too well to leave them without hope, alone and sorrowing; therefore he said, “It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

But the promise of “another Comforter” is not enough. They have been with Jesus and have loved him. They have listened to and marveled at the “gracious words” which fell from his lips. And now the assurance, “I go away” but send “another Comforter,” could never satisfy their longing hearts. But the promise, “I will come again,” is sufficient. This is just what they want; just what meets the desire of each heart. The “same Jesus” who called them away from their ships and fishing nets to preach the gospel of the kingdom is the one they most desire. And the “same Jesus” who was the desire of his disciples then is the desire of his people now.

When Jesus left earth for his home in Heaven, God sent his angels to assure the disciples of his return to receive them to himself; and while the Saviour was taken up from them, and a cloud received him out of their sight, the angels said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Having received this assurance, they return to Jerusalem to await the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus said should “guide them into all truth.” How carefully the Lord has guarded his truth! And yet there are people who think God is not very particular about his word. “It makes no difference,” say they, “what we believe if we are only honest,” which is equivalent to saying, “God does not care whether we believe him or the devil, if we are only honest.”

Oh, that such would pause and think! Does not God care? Then why turn Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden because they believed Satan? Why curse the ground for man's sake? Why send his only begotten Son to suffer and die, if simply being “honest” in any sort of belief will save us? Or why should Paul be so careful in writing to Timothy to exhort him: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, . . . rightly dividing the word of truth”? And again, “I charge thee therefore before God: . . . Preach the word.” What word? The verse above quoted explains—“the word of truth.” What is truth? Let Christ answer. In his prayer to his Father, he says, “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.” John 17:17.

The doctrine of sanctification is plainly taught in the Bible. Christ would have his people sanctified; but it must be “through the truth.” “If ye continue in the truth, the truth shall make you free;” that is, free from sin and the condemnation brought upon us by belief in the lie Satan told in the garden of Eden. “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house forever; but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:32–36. If we, by believing and obeying God's word, are made free through faith in his Son, then are we “free indeed.” But if we continue in sin and unbelief of the word of the Father, we may have great faith in the Son, but it is of no avail. Without obedience to God, we cannot hope for his salvation.

What greater sin could the Jews have committed than to reject and crucify the Son of God? and what greater sin can people of this enlightened age commit than to reject the truth for the last days? God cares for his truth. He would have his people “magnify and make it honorable.” We can do this in no other way than by obeying all his requirements.

Paul teaches us that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. But how are we to become holy? Says Jesus, “Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” But how can we become clean through the word except by believing and obeying? And by so doing we shall find perfect freedom from sin, and holiness, “without which no man shall see the Lord.” If there is one truth which is more than another an incentive to holiness, it is found in the words, “I will come again.” Says John, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2, 3.

Again, Peter, speaking of the coming of Christ and the destruction of the world, says, “Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.” 2 Pet. 3:11–14.

Here, then, in the belief in the coming of Christ, the very doctrine above all others displeasing to the popular church (unless it be the Sabbath truth), we find a hope which will cause people to purify themselves “even as He is pure.” Why talk of sanctification, and then reject the very truth which sanctifies? Why preach holiness and then say, “My Lord delayeth his coming”? Why talk of purity and reject the hope that will cause a man to purify himself?

“I will come again.” Yes; soon the opening heavens will reveal the Son of man in all his glory, and the voice which once pierced the tomb of Lazarus, calling him forth to life, will reach the graves of all the holy sleeping ones, bidding them come forth to life eternal—to a seat at his right hand, where there are pleasures for evermore.

“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

R. TUTTLE.